Football and the Fall of Adam

Key Points

• The aim is to explore how soccer influences mental health and identity through psychoanalytic lenses.
• Qualitative analysis of player narratives and experiences
• Integration of psychoanalytic theory with soccer performance
• Examination of emotional responses during and after soccer matches
• Players reported heightened emotional states during matches, impacting performance positively and negatively
• Soccer serves as an identity-forming activity, influencing players' self-perception and mental well-being
• Emotional regulation skills were observed to improve with continuous engagement in soccer